We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:26:36 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Which aircraft cockpit is this? Hi-res. Really busy day today. But if you know your airplanes... there are enough clues to get this. If you don't, well, have fun anyway!... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html Tue, 08 Mar 2005 09:44:30 -0600 Or, in my case, if either of them stop spinning... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17671 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17671 Wed, 09 Mar 2005 10:55:41 -0600 Little boy: why are there four propellers on your airplane? Herc Pilot: Well son, we need them to keep the pilot cool. LB: Huh? HP: If more than two of them stop spinning, the pilot gets really hot and sweaty. Cheers JMH http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17619 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17619 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:05:53 -0600 Yeah, next time I'll play smart and turn off the comments and make ya email answers. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17588 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17588 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 19:06:48 -0600 some people, I didn't need to Google it, although I did whip out my A-20 Havoc in action reference to verify, because that photo looked darned familiar. Not the same shot that I have, although that's an A-20G cockpit as well. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17580 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17580 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 18:29:23 -0600 Technically, a HUD conveys flight information as well as target solutions. "Reflex sight" is the proper term in this instance. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17578 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17578 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 17:58:03 -0600 I only used Google to confirm my guess. My scarf-wearing Zoomie Brain did all the rest. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17569 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17569 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 15:10:42 -0600 So the A20G deleted the forward firing MGs allowing the deletion of the HUD? Ahh. More googling and I see that the HUD was removed from that sample cockpit. There are some brackets to either side for the HUD glass. Sneaky.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17568 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17568 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 14:50:34 -0600 If it had a cyclic and collective, and if the instrument panel was different, and if it had a HUD, and if the pedals were different, and if it had a gunner's station up front, and if the seat was air-cooled, it would be a Cobra. And if a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumped. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17566 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17566 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 14:36:27 -0600 Dude - you took the easy way out. I like Monteith's approach. But yeah, it's an A20G. And now that I googled it, I see my source prolly swiped these... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17562 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17562 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:57:25 -0600 It's definitely a Douglas A-20G "Havoc," confirmed at Google Images. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17560 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17560 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:48:03 -0600 Details of note: 1. Wheel vs Stick 2. Twin engine controls/gauges 3. No Hud so not a fighter 4. Single front seat, and there's a coaming above/behind the pilot so probably not a second seat I'm leaning towards a later Douglas A-20 Havoc (perhaps the Invader?) but the A-20 had a gunsight for the forward firing MGs. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17545 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17545 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 12:06:02 -0600 Bristol Beaufighter?? Whatever, I want it... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17543 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17543 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 11:44:20 -0600 sky warrior or perhaps skywarrior http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17535 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17535 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 11:09:17 -0600 An A3 what, Mike? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17533 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17533 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 11:02:53 -0600 Well ... my boss says "it's an A3, no doubt about it". http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17532 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17532 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 11:00:14 -0600 Yeah, I'd have to go with an A-20 as my second guess. It's obviously a US plane and seems to be of that era, though the throttle handles themselves and even the panel in front of and below that seems to be more modern. It's definitely not an F-7 Tigercat or P-61 Black Widow. If it's not an A-20, I'm baffled. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17531 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17531 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:50:53 -0600 P-39 Aircobra, the part that gives it away is the fact that the canopy is closed when the photo was taken because you enter the Aircobra through a door on the left side of the fuselage. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17530 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17530 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:49:37 -0600 Douglas A-20 Havoc. The yoke/controls, throttles and no gunsights are clues. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17529 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17529 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:44:27 -0600 Fie and piffle. I tried. Scarf wearers? How polite. My *enlisted* AF chums refer to 'em as "stick actuators". (Hee!) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17526 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17526 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:37:31 -0600 Though it would appear at this point, we're overrun with ground-pounders! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17523 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17523 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:11:53 -0600 Mike - it will be *much* cooler if one of us ground-pounders scores it vice the scarf-wearers. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17522 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17522 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:10:44 -0600 Spitfire or Hurricane? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17521 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17521 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:04:55 -0600 Like this. Or this. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17520 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17520 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:04:02 -0600 twin throttles, wheel vs stick, poptop vs sliding canopy (look at the registration holes) - P38. Gunsight? Dunno 'bout that, I'm an old sleep-in-the-mud type. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17519 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17519 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:00:37 -0600 Probably a P-38, but there's no gunsight, so possibly an F-5 (unarmed photo-recon variant). http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17518 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17518 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 09:52:45 -0600 P-38 Lightning? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17517 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/lets_see_who_the_geeks_are.html#comment-17517 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 09:46:28 -0600